NOV
17 --
Mark Trouville, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration,
Miami Field Division, R. Alexander Acosta,
United States
Attorney
for the Southern District of Florida, Rear Admiral Jody Breckenridge,
Commander 11th Coast Guard District, U.S. Coast Guard, and Jesus
Torres, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigrations and Customs
Enforcement, announced that Javier Hernandez Rodriguez, and Juan
Alfonso Robles-Esparza,
were charged in a two-count indictment with conspiracy to possess
with
intent to distribute cocaine and possession of cocaine with the
intent to distribute. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum
term of
life imprisonment.

This case resulted from the October 20, 2006, seizure of approximately
9 tons of cocaine. On that day, the United States Navy ship USS Thach,
while on routine patrol in the eastern Pacific Ocean, sighted the
fishing vessel Calipso V in international waters, flying the Costa
Rican flag.
The USS Thach with an embarked U.S. Coast Guard boarding team, was
operating under the tactical command of the 11th Coast Guard District.
The Coast
Guard 11th District Command Center contacted the Government of Costa
Rica and obtained permission to board and inspect the vessel. On
the Calipso V, the boarding team discovered approximately 389 bales
containing
multiple kilograms of cocaine, and 8 individual kilograms of cocaine.
In total, approximately 9 tons of cocaine was seized, one of the
largest narcotics seizures on board a vessel. The U.S. Coast Guard
identified
the crew, which included four Costa Rican nationals. The Government
of Costa Rica has retained jurisdiction over these four nationals.
Also
on board were defendants Javier Hernandez-Rodriguez, a Colombian
national, and Juan Alfonso Robles, a Mexican national.

Mr. Acosta commended the United States Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy,
the Drug Enforcement Administration Miami Field Division, and the
U.S. Immigration
and Customs Enforcement for their work on this case.